How To Be Confident In Interviews

April 3, 2018

You are invited to an interview, now you feel nervous and intimidated! Feeling nervous in interviews is a natural feeling. Even the most confident candidates feel the same. Whether you are meeting a one person or more than one interviewer, you may feel as if you are under a magnifying glass. Your nervousness may cause you to ramble in the interview, or you may not find the right words to articulate your answers, or worse, your mind might go blank, and you do not know what to say.

John Smith, manager at JobsinGTA.com, shares with you five tips to keep in mind to ace your next interview and maintain your confidence.

1- LOOK THE PART AND ACT THE PART

It is not enough to look sharp, it is also important to feel your self-worth and know your value. You are invited to the interview because you possess the qualities and skills, which the employer is searching for. Focus on showcasing your potential in helping the employer achieving their business goals. Once you remind yourself of your real value to the employer, your confidence will skyrocket.

2- KEEP YOUR ANSWERS CONCISE

In order to persuade the interviewer that you are the best candidate for the job, your answers should be brief. Use examples from your experience about situations when you managed to solve a problem or help your company achieve a goal. Do not talk too much because you may confuse the interviewer and keep your answers short and precise.

3- BE PREPARED

There are tons of articles on the internet on common questions that the interviewer may ask. Review those questions and frame your answers and tie them to the information you gathered about the company and the position. Do not jump to the answer directly, take a breath and think of the question before you answer.

4- BE FRIENDLY, BUT NOT TOO MUCH

It might seem a no-brainer to smile and act friendly. However, when you feel nervous, you may take the friendliness too far. Maintain composure. Smile but not all the time, only when you have eye contact with someone and switch between a smile and a serious look when you talk about serious topics. Control your body language. Do not be stiff, but also do not be too animated.

5- VISUALIZE YOUR INTERVIEW

Before going to the interview, visualize your meeting with the interviewer. Imagine yourself walking in confidence and entering the room. Visualize your handshake, your posture and the whole conversation. You may even practice a mock interview with a friend or a career counsellor. This visualization exercise will trick your brain that you have been in this situation before and will tame down your nervousness.